Candidates for the seat of Euroa in this month’s Victorian election faced off on a number of contentious issues across the electorate.
The candidates were asked who would commit to the bypass with a clear timeline of what could be achieved by 2026.
Labor candidate Angela Tough was left to explain why the project had stalled under the current state government.
“Believe it or not, I have had a little bit of pressure from the Kilmore community on this topic, and rightly so,” Ms Tough said.
“It is quite a hairy situation for the residents of Kilmore.”
She said that $30 million had recently been announced to fund the roundabout at the Wondong and Northern Highway intersection, with another roundabout already complete.
She said that funding would be available for the project once a final overlay for the route was decided.
“In four years, you would hope that would be achievable,” she said, referring to the four years of budget lines between now and 2026.
Both the Liberals and Nationals pledged $300 million for the bypass.
Liberal candidate Brad Hearn acknowledged that $300 million would not be enough to complete the ‘whole puzzle’ of the bypass, but said the project had been on the back burner for too long.
“Let’s start with a small chunk ... it’s a plan to make sure things are moving in the four years,” Mr Hearn said.
All candidates agreed there was significant community fatigue, particularly around the traffic congestion that faces the main street.
The Nationals candidate Annabelle Cleeland outlined some of consequences for the town’s liveability resulting from the project’s delay.
She referenced cafes unable to have seats on the street and elderly residents leaving the town due to asthma and said crossing the main street was ‘a game of Russian roulette’.
“Businesses are really struggling. You’ve got a health and safety issue, you’ve got an economic challenge and one of the most historically important and beautiful towns in our community crumbling,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Kilmore’s future is really tough ... without redirecting traffic.”
Ms Tough highlighted some limitations of the bypass, warning that even with the bypass, the trucks from the Kilmore quarry, which carry dirt and rubble, would still need to use the main street as there was no other route for these vehicles.
The current Victorian Government has funded the Kilmore revitalisation project, aimed at mitigating some of the damage caused by the high traffic along the street, especially to historical buildings.
Mr Hearn said the stalling of the Kilmore-Wallan bypass at a state level was consistent with an under-valuation of transport infrastructure in regional Victoria.
“The northern corridor is the future for Victoria, that’s where the growth will come. But at the moment that’s very stifled,” he said.
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